March 12, 2011 - Bulgaria’s Minister of Culture Vezhdi Rashidov is definitely against the text in the National programme for restriction of smoking in the Republic of Bulgaria 2011-2015, which envisages ‘restriction of the scenes with cigarette smoking in Bulgarian movies and TV series’, the press office of the ministry announced.“Such interference in art is absurd. Both as minister and as an artist, I will never accept this. I will not allow such an aggressive interference in the art,” the minister remarked.

March 12, 2011 - The New York City Health Department is launching a new anti-smoking campaign - and the ads are pretty disturbing. The message with the new ads is that dying from smoking is rarely quick and never painless. Another ad shows a suffering stroke patient. To help you quit smoking the Health Department is also giving away free nicotine gum and patches for the next couple weeks.

March 11, 2011 - Customs and border protection staff in Brisbane have seized more than 2.5 million illegally imported cigarettes. They were found in a shipping container from Hong Kong earmarked to contain bubble wrap and lunch boxes.

Under the Customs Act the penalty for smuggling and evading duty is five times the amount of tax evaded and a possible 10-year jail sentence.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says the seizure of that many counterfeit cigarettes represents an attempt to evade government revenue of almost $1.2 million.

"While cigarettes and tobacco are not illegal items in Australia, it is against the law to fail to declare what is being brought into Australia, and duty evasion is also illegal," Mr O'Connor said.

"Counterfeit products can also be subject to civil action from the registered trademark owners."Last month, Customs officers at the Brisbane Container Examination Facility were suspicious of a shipping container from Hong Kong marked by the importer as holding bubble wrap and lunch boxes. Officers conducted an initial container X-ray, and when that raised their suspicions, the goods were unpacked and a physical examination uncovered the cigarettes.

Over the past four years Customs and Border Protection has seized 977 tonnes of tobacco and 286 million cigarettes in sea cargo, preventing potential revenue evasion of about $397 million.

March 11, 2011 - Health Minister Nicola Roxon has moved to extinguish any suggestion Labor could increase the tobacco excise in the May budget. Ms Roxon was forced to stub out the speculation after the government's indigenous smoking coordinator, Tom Calma, said another tax hike had been "mooted".

Labor increased the excise by 25 per cent in April 2010, adding $2.16 to the price of a pack of 30 smokes. Australia - tobacco tax increase now in force, next comes plain tobacco packaging.. The government's preventative health taskforce had recommended a 68 per cent increase in the excise.But in responding to the taskforce's findings in May the government argued that while hiking prices could cause some smokers to quit "it can also induce financial stress among people who continue to smoke". "The government has therefore not decided to pursue the full 68 per cent increase in excise advocated by the taskforce at this time." On Thursday, March 10th Ms Roxon said the government hadn't changed its mind.

"The government was clear in the Taking Preventative Action (response) paper in May 2010 that we will not pursue the full 68 per cent increase in excise advocated by the national preventative health taskforce," a spokesman for the minister said in a statement.

Earlier, Mr Calma was asked at the National Press Club in Canberra whether he would like to see the government increase the tobacco tax in the budget. "I believe that's mooted," he said, adding "that's something for government to determine". Mr Calma, who noted he was only a consultant to the commonwealth, believes making cigarettes more expensive is effective in reducing smoking rates.

Many Aboriginal people who didn't quit still reduced the number of cigarettes they smoked so the packet would last longer, Mr Calma said. "That's an important start because the three key goals are prevention, reduction and then cessation."

March 10, 2011 - The Coalition Government has announced details of its new Tobacco Control Plan and the British Heart Foundation is pleased to see the plan includes a range of measures which will help protect people from the dangers of smoking.

Betty McBride, Director of Policy and Communications at the British Heart Foundation, said:

"The Coalition Government has been under enormous pressure from a tobacco industry hell-bent on derailing important legislation banning tobacco displays in shops. Today is a victory for health campaigners and show of strength from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley."Though we're slightly disappointed the display ban is being delayed, it will help prevent the industry from marketing their products to children and will go a long way to helping young people avoid a lifetime of addiction and health problems. The introduction of plain packaging would complement the ban and signal the end of slick, colourful designs used as 'silent salesmen'.

"Before today's announcement, tobacco bosses have been keeping busy scaremongering retailers with claims that the display ban will see them facing an insurmountable financial burden. The evidence from the ban in Ireland disproves those claims and the changes the Government has made to the legislation, including giving shopkeepers more time to comply, should provide further reassurance."

"Nearly all adult smokers started smoking before they turned 18 and every year, over 300,000 children under 16 try smoking," said Chief Medical Officer Sally Davies.

"Smoking is undeniably one of the biggest and most stubborn challenges in public health. Over eight million people in England still smoke and it causes more than 80,000 deaths each year," said Health Secretary Andrew Lansley in his statement on the new law.

The government aims to reduce the adult smoking population from 21.2% to 18.5% or less and 15% to 12% or less among 15-year-olds by the end of 2015.

March 10, 2011 - FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- To align U.S. cigar operations with the overall organizational structure of parent company Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, Altadis U.S.A. has announced an organizational restructuring.

In order to strengthen U.S. business opportunities and to maximize market capabilities and its worldwide brand portfolio, the company has established a new Premium Cigar Division within the United States. Javier Estades, formerly sales and marketing director for Europe and international markets, has been appointed to the new position of general manager for premium cigars U.S.A., reporting to Fernando Dominguez, premium cigar director worldwide for Bristol, K.K.-based Imperial Tobacco.

Jim Colucci, executive vice president sales and marketing, who recently announced his retirement effective July 31, 2011, will work closely with Javier and Fernando to ensure a smooth transition until his retirement.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Altadis U.S.A. is a leader in the U.S. premium cigar market. The company manufactures and markets brands such as Montecristo, H. Upmann, Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Vega Fina, Onyx Reserve, Don Diego, Saint Luis Rey, Gispert and many others. Phillies cigars are manufactured by Altadis U.S.A., Inc., which is the American subsidiary of Spanish-based Altadis S.A. Dutch Masters cigars are currently manufactured and sold by Altadis U.S.A., Inc., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They are machine rolled cigars, and come in two main varieties: full size cigars, and smaller cigarillos colloquially known as "mini-dutches.

A proposal by governing party Fidesz to ban smoking in all closed public spaces from the middle of the year - including entertainment venues, restaurants and offices - was submitted at the end of last month. Over a dozen amendment motions have since been submitted.

According to Világgazdaság, one of the few amendment motions which have a chance is the one which would delay the introduction of the ban by half a year.Fidesz MP Tamás Heintz is to submit an amendment to an anti-smoking bill that would also ban smoking in cars in which children younger than 18 are riding. Fidesz caucus press chief Ákos Krakkó confirmed the report, adding that Heintz considers the amendment important, as the children of parents who smoke in a car have no protection against harm caused by second-hand smoke. (Hungary mulls ban on smoking in cars with kids by: Hungary Around the Clock, caboodle.hu, 3/4/2011)

Hungary - Smoking has been banned for several years on public transport, hospitals, airports and in public and federal buildings, including the Parliament. From 2010, a smoking ban is effective on playgrounds and underpasses.[47] Several cities are already banning smoking in public transport stops – Szeged from June 2007, Pécs from early 2009,[48] Budapest in early 2011.[49] A complete ban (all public spaces) is effective from mid 2011.[50] [51][52] (List of smoking bans)

New State Tobacco Tax BillsNew bills have either been proposed or introduced at the state level.- By Thomas Briant, NATO Executive Director

In the past 10 days, bills have been introduced in additional states to raise cigarette and/or OTP tax rates.

Below is a brief summary of the recently proposed and introduced bills:

Connecticut: Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has proposed raising the state's cigarette tax rate from $3.00 per pack to $3.40 per pack, increasing the tax on moist snuff to $1.00 per ounce, and hiking the OTP tax from 20 percent to 50 percent of the wholesale price.

Kentucky: Bill Number H.318 would increase the cigarette tax from the current $.60 per pack to $1.66 per pack, and raise the tax on other tobacco products from 15 percent to 27.5 percent.

Maine: House Bill 419 would raise the cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack, from $2.00 per pack to $3.50 per pack.

Maryland: Senate Bill Number 654 proposes to raise the state tax on cigarettes by $1.00 per pack for a new rate of $3.00 per pack, and also increase the OTP tax from 15 percent to 95 percent.

New York: Bill Number S.2981 would add $1.65 per pack to the state's current $4.35 per pack cigarette tax, for a new rate of $6.00 per pack.

North Dakota: House Bill 1353, which would have raised the cigarette tax by $.41/pack, failed to pass the legislature.

California: Senate Bill Number 330 would increase the cigarette tax by $1.50 per pack from the current $.87 per pack to a new rate of $2.37 per pack.

Connecticut: Senate Bill Number 1007 would increase the cigarette tax from the current $3.00 per pack to $3.40 per pack, raise the tax on other tobacco products from 27.5% to 50% and increase the excise tax on moist snuff by 45 cents per ounce for a new rate of $1.00 per ounce.

March 9, 2011 - Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray, chairman of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services said: "We value the brave men and women who have proudly served our country and we want to provide them with the opportunity to live long, healthy lives."

In 2008, the Department of Veterans’ Services and Department of Public Health launched its first smoking cessation program for veterans. Nearly 4,000 veterans and family members called the hotline to obtain free support and nicotine patches over the seven-month program.

“This smoking-cessation program for veterans is a demonstration of our state’s commitment to helping serve those who have served us,’’ said state Representative James E. Vallee, House chairman of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.Smoking is a major problem among veterans even as it is generally on the decline across the state. Overall, 23.5 percent of veterans smoke, according to Governor Deval Patrick’s office. But only 16.1 percent of all adults in Massachusetts smoke, which is below the national average of 18.4 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A recent study from the Institute of Medicine showed that 32 percent of active-duty military personnel smoke, and that the prevalence of smoking may be over 50 percent higher in military personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan than for those who were not deployed there.

“It’s a very serious problem, and we think it’s not only a public health issue but a veterans’ services issue, as well,’’ said Coleman Nee, secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Services, in a phone interview yesterday. “Soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines put themselves in very dangerous situations, and it’s a real shame for them to make it back here and put themselves into a bad situation because of an addition to cigarettes.’’

"We're prepared to enforce immediately," Mattox said after being unanimously backed by the Senate Finance Committee for the tax post.

Mattox said the agency is prepared to issue tax-free coupons to members of Indian tribes and collect the tax on non-Indian customers "as soon as we are [allowed] to do so by the courts."

Is he concerned about possible confrontations as occurred the last time the state tried to collect the tax in 1997? "I don't have the expertise on that. I think that's really a question for law enforcement," he said. "Our focus has been on the tax laws and our requirements under them, and we are prepared to enforce them."Seneca Nation President Robert Odawi Porter issued a statement following Mattox's comments."There's nothing new here," Porter said. "The Nation prefers dialogue to confrontation. When the state wants to discuss this issue, we'll be open to those discussions. As always, we will defend our treaty rights vigorously."

The state wants to collect its $4.35-per-pack excise tax, which is not being charged to smokers who buy from Indian retailers.

The Senate Nation, whose private tobacco retailers are considered the biggest Native American cigarette suppliers, is fighting the Cuomo effort in court and before the Legislature. They argue that the tax-free sales are protected by treaty rights and that they will not be party to a tax collection effort by Albany.

Mattox is a former executive at Goldman Sachs & Co. and Chase Manhattan Bank. In the Senate Finance hearing, Mattox said his department is also considering a system used in other states that employs a special encryption system on cigarettes to reduce counterfeit cigarettes flowing into the high tobacco state.

March 9, 2011 -- Ottawa – Megan Leslie, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Halifax and New Democrat Critic for Health, announced the introduction of legislation, An Act to amend the Tobacco Act (smokeless tobacco and little cigars). Leslie was joined at the launch of her bill (Bill C-631) by members of Flavour… GONE! a youth-driven advocacy group that was instrumental in the passage of bill C-32 that banned flavoured cigarillos and received royal assent in October 2009.

Megan Leslie ----> Mr. Speaker, health experts agree that flavoured tobacco products are consumed by young Canadians as a stepping stone to consuming non-flavoured tobacco products. By banning flavoured tobaccos, we will help reduce smoking rates in Canada.

Bill C-32, which amended the Tobacco Act and came into force in October 2009, was supposed to ban flavoured cigarillos. However, we learned last year that tobacco manufacturers found a loophole in the definitions that allowed them to continue selling flavoured cigarillos.

The bill I am tabling today would close that loophole. The bill would also ban all forms of flavoured smokeless tobacco, something that government officials promised to do by June 2010. They did not fulfill that promise and this bill would fill that legislative gap. I would like to thank my New Democrat health critic predecessor, Judy Wasylycia-Leis, for her significant efforts to have flavoured tobacco banned in Canada and the work that led to the passage of Bill C-32. While she is no longer a member of Parliament, her legacy of good work remains a testament to her time in office.

“Bill C-32 was supposed to have banned the sale flavoured cigarillos but we learned last year that tobacco manufacturers had found a loop hole in the bill’s definitions that allowed them to continue to sell flavoured cigarillos,” said Leslie. “Candy-flavoured cigarillos continue to be a means for the tobacco industry to make profits at any cost, without regard for the fact that flavoured tobaccos have been linked to increased tobacco use by youth.”

Media outlets reported in August 2010 that flavoured cigarillos were still being sold in Canada, because the definitions in C-32 did not apply to larger cigarillos that do not have filters. Leslie’s PMB closes that loop hole and extends the ban to flavoured smokeless tobacco products, something that government officials told the Standing Committee on Health in June 2009 would be done by June 2010.

“This bill (C-631) offers Parliamentarians the opportunity to finish the job of protecting youth from candy-flavoured tobacco products,” Dr. Dr. Atul Kapur, President of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada. “We call on parliamentarians to follow the cooperative spirit that facilitated the passage of C-32 and to support this bill’s quick passage.”

C-32 was based on a PMB tabled in 2008 by New Democrat Judy Wasylycia-Leis that banned flavoured tobacco products. However, the government version of the bill did not ban flavoured smokeless tobacco products, and did not use the tighter definition of cigarillo that was contained within Wasylycia-Leis’ bill.

“Cancer shouldn't come in candy flavours,” said James McInerney, a youth advocate for the FlavourGONE movement. “Youth across Ontario are standing up with a united voice saying enough is enough when it comes to tobacco industry marketing tactics. We need MP's from all parties to stand up and support legislation removing flavours from all tobacco products.”

Leslie is calling for the government to take immediate action to close the flavoured cigarillo loophole, and to extend the ban to flavoured smokeless tobacco products.

March 9, 2011 - A Democratic lawmaker, backed by anti-tobacco forces, said Tuesday, March 8th she will introduce a bill to raise cigarette taxes by $1.50 a pack, with commensurate increases for other tobacco products. “I like to call it a tobacco-user fee,” said Rep. Trudi Schmidt, D-Great Falls, who said money raised by the higher tax will fund tobacco-cessation programs and other health-related programs.

Schmidt and members of the Alliance for a Healthy Montana and the American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network pointed to a poll they commissioned that said 70 percent of Montanans support the higher tobacco tax. The higher tax will discourage people from smoking as well as fund anti-tobacco and health programs, they said. “This is an addiction that continues to cost us for generations, and it needs to be stopped,” said Richard Sargent, a family physician in Helena and outspoken critic of tobacco.

When asked whether her bill would be supported by a Republican legislative majority that has stated its opposition to any tax increases, Schmidt said the proposal is a “creative solution” to provide revenue for anti-tobacco programs that have been cut from the state’s proposed budget the next two years.

If the bill fails to pass the Legislature, a voter initiative is “always an option,” she said, in response to a question.Montana taxes cigarettes at $1.70 per pack, the 17th-highest state tobacco tax in the nation. Most of Montana’s tax on cigarettes and tobacco has been approved by voter initiatives. The highest state tobacco tax in the country is New York, at $4.35 per pack.

Money from the increased tax on tobacco would pay for tobacco-prevention programs, aging services programs, scholarships for primary-care physicians in the state, obesity-prevention programs and maternal and child health programs.

Supporters of the tax said the increased tax would not only fund health and anti-tobacco programs, but also increase the price of cigarettes and other products to the point that some people would quit or not start in the first place because of the cost.

“What this tax is, is it gives tobacco addicts another reason to break that addiction,” Sargent said.

March 9, 2011 - SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah House of Representatives passed Substitute HB89 late Monday, March 7th a bill that would make it illegal for adults to smoke in cars carrying children age 15 and under. In a close 39-35 vote, the bill was sent to the Senate for their consideration.

The bill was originally sent to the House Transportation committee, but did not make it to the House floor. It passed through the House Health and Human Services committee with a 7-2 vote and then moved to the floor.

Sponsored by Representative Patrice Arent-D, Salt Lake City, the bill allows up to a $45 fine that would be waived if the driver enrolls in a course to stop smoking. Arent pointed out that children’s lungs, sinuses and ears are damaged by second-hand smoke, and the purpose of the bill is to protect “those who cannot protect themselves.”Arguments against the bill include an infringement of personal freedom, and concerns that legislation of this nature could lead to a “slippery slope.” A suggestion by Representative Brad Daw-R, Orem to have law enforcement provide an offender with a brochure about the dangers of smoking instead of a ticket was voted down.

Representative Lee Perry-R, Perry, is a lieutenant with the Utah Highway Patrol. He remarked about the irony of the Utah Legislature’s fight against abortion and how it seems to conflict with their objections to HB89. According to Perry, lawmakers spend a lot of time protecting the unborn, but “the second they come out we can start poisoning them and killing them.” Representative Carl Wimmer-R, Herriman had his three anti-abortion bills pass the House yesterday as well. He voted against HB89.

Advertisement of tobacco products in Bulgaria will be strongly restricted, according to the new National Program for Limiting Smoking in 2011-2015, prepared by the Health Ministry.

Effective 2011, there will be a ban on the production of any items such as toys or food resembling cigarettes and other tobacco products.

In 2013, there will be a ban on all forms of direct and indirect tobacco advertisement, such as displaying cigarettes and images of them in stores while the sale of tobacco products will be limited to specialized stores only. The same year, measures will be applied to restrict the showing of people smoking in Bulgarian movies, TV series and various broadcasts.Cigarette manufacturers will be mandated to account for the exact amount of funds used for advertisement, and will not be allowed to sponsor social events. The program will also ban the use of additives aiming at improving the aroma and the taste of cigarettes.

The full ban on smoking in indoor public spaces legislation will be ready by 2012 with the goal to reduce passive smoking as well. Other measures include keeping high cigarette prices and campaigns to teach about the harmful effects of smoking.

The new rules on smoking entered in effect on December 19, 2010. According to these rules, indoor smoking in restaurants, clubs, bars, hotels, railroad stations, airports, malls, offices and schools is allowed only in separate spaces with closing doors.

March 9, 2011 - Thirty seven Missouri hospitals suing tobacco companies are trying to get reimbursed for treating dog bites, car accidents and broken bones – ailments that have nothing to do with smoking, according to a Missouri Lawyers Weekly story quoting a defense attorney on the first day of a long-awaited trial.

The suit was first filed in 1998, at the same time as the multi-state tobacco settlement was signed. Tobacco company critics say it is an achievement for the Missouri hospitals to have got their case before a jury. The trial is expected to last a record six months.

The hospitals are suing 11 defendants – six cigarette-makers and their parent companies – to recoup health care costs incurred while treating smoking-related illnesses or complications of patients who could not pay.

The defendants say the injuries the hospitals allege are too indirect or remote to support a recovery of expenditures.

March 9, 2011 - To determine the risk of adverse fetal outcomes of secondhand smoke exposure in nonsmoking pregnant women. The analysis of 19 observational studies found a 23% increased risk of stillbirth with tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy. And seven of the studies found that pregnant women exposed to second hand smoke were also 13% more likely give birth to a child with congenital malformations.

"Because the timing and mechanism of this effect is not clear, it is important to prevent secondhand smoke (shs, environmental tobacco smoke, ets, passive smoking, sidestream smoke, involuntary smoking) exposure in women before and during pregnancy," the group urged in their paper. Moreover it wasn't clear whether exposure to tobacco smoke toxins via the mother was the culprit, since active smoking by the father could damage genes in his sperm and impact the child as well, Leonardi-Bee's team noted. "These results highlight the importance of smoking prevention and cessation to focus on the father in addition to the mother during the preconception period and during pregnancy," they concluded in the paper.

Previous data have shown that smoking during pregnancy boosts the risk of birth defects by 10% to 34% and stillbirth risk by 20% to 34%, so a modest impact of environmental exposure involving lower levels of the same tobacco smoke toxins wasn't surprising, the group noted.

Chris Nelson, president of PMFTC, said the industry may have difficulties in exceeding last year’s record sales amid the increase in the excise tax slapped on cigarette products. Nelson said the escalating political crisis in the Middle East, which is a major destination for Filipino workers, could also be a factor in the slowdown in the demand for cigarettes. “Last year, it was a matter of higher volumes and strong demand. But this year, what’s happening in the Middle East might also have an impact on sales,” the executive said, without disclosing figures.“Let’s not forget that there was an increase in the excise tax on cigarettes in January and higher prices would understandably affect demand,” Nelson said.

But the market would continue to grow because of favorable demographics like the country’s increasing adult population, he said. He said the industry’s growth has always been linked to the country’s population, which has been growing by 1.7 percent to 1.8 percent every year. Since 2005, the industry has grown by an average of 2 percent to 3 percent a year.

“The market is very price sensitive since it is a factor of the consumer’s disposable income. Any sharp, unpredictable tax increase would depress the market,” Nelson said. “It would be reasonable to assume that demand would be affected but overall, the industry outlook, not specific to 2011, is favorable. The only caveat is that the right excise tax system must be in place,” he added.

“Excise tax collection on cigarettes have increased substantially to P31.6 billion last year, exceeding the government’s target of P25 billion. This proves the system works, so there is no reason for it to be changed,” Nelson said.

Republic Act 9334, or An Act Increasing the Excise Tax Rates Imposed on Alcohol and Tobacco Products, provides for increases every two years from 2005 to 2011. The scheme provides that alcohol and tobacco products are placed in four categories with varying tax rates. “There are not many laws in many countries which have worked as well as RA 9334 that allowed government to collect more taxes and at the same time, enabled the industry to plan. It is a resounding success. It is working very well so why fix it,” Nelson said.

Since January 1, cigarettes packed by machine with net retail prices of below P5 (0.11 USD) per pack would be taxed P2.72 (0.06 USD). Those priced P5 but not exceeding P6.50 per pack shall be taxed P7.56 (0.17 USD), while those priced P6.50 without exceeding P10 would be taxed P12 per pack. Those priced above P10 per pack would be taxed P28.30 (0.65 USD) per pack.